Synopsis: The Boilermakers' closing three-game winning streak wasn't enough to save coach Danny Hope's job, but the opportunity is there for a winning campaign to give incoming hire Darrell Hazell some momentum. It will be a tall order as Purdue faces a Cowboys offense that ranks fifth nationally. OSU QB J.W. Walsh can count on production from every eligible position. TB Joseph Randle led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,351 yards; WR Josh Stewart enters with 1,154 yards receiving; and TE Blake Jackson is averaging better than 20 yards on 28 receptions. Purdue DT Kawann Short will do his best to disrupt things up front. The Cowboys' defense isn't nearly as airtight, which should give Boilermakers QB Robert Marve chances to keep pace. His top helper from the backfield is TB Akeem Shavers, who can expect frequent encounters with OSU LB Alex Elkins.

Synopsis: Those agonizing fourth-quarter defeats that kept the Wildcats from playing for the Big Ten title will all be forgotten if they can snap their nine-bowl losing streak and bring home the school's first postseason victory since the 1949 Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs have other ideas as they look to shake off a late-season slide that included with a loss to archrival Ole Miss. The Northwestern attack is a nightmare to scout, with QB Kain Colter likely to appear at multiple positions and Trevor Siemian stepping behind center. But TB Venric Mark figures to be the key to the entire package, and he'll be watched by Bulldogs LB Cameron Lawrence. MSU QB Tyler Russell will look to use WR Chad Bumphis to give TB Ladarius Perkins room to operate. Wildcats LB Damien Proby will lead the effort to keep the Bulldogs bottled up.

Synopsis: Both these conference runners-up have to view this game as a chance for redemption. The Bulldogs might have had the more difficult pill to swallow after missing out on a shot at the national championship, but the Cornhuskers will have plenty of motivation to demonstrate that the 70 points they surrendered to Wisconsin in the Big Ten finale was not indicative of their ability. Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez led the Big Ten in passing efficiency and total offense, but his 10 interceptions demonstrate he still takes dangerous risks at times. That was sometimes by necessity with TB Rex Burkhead out injured for a long stretch, but Martinez will also need to take care when he tucks and runs with LB Jarvis Jones patrolling the Georgia front. Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray hopes to end the year on a high note after running out of time on his final drive against Alabama. The TB tandem of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall figure to be champing at the bit as well after seeing what Wisconsin was able to do against the Nebraska defense. Cornhuskers LB-turned-DE Eric Martin will be asked to use his speed to contain on the outside.

Outback Bowl in Tampa

No. 10 South Carolina (10-2) vs. No. 22 Michigan (8-4)

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.

Covers.com line: South Carolina by 5½. Sagarin difference: South Carolina by 6.33.

Synopsis: This bowl gave the Big Ten its only win against the SEC in the annual Sunshine State tripleheader a year ago as Michigan State outlasted Georgia by a field goal. The Wolverines will need all of their versatility to topple the Gamecocks and their star-studded defense. The focus will be on South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney, who was last seen making life miserable for the Clemson O-line as he increased his season sacks total to 13. Michigan will look to neutralize his pass rush with multiple looks for Denard Robinson, who might take snaps himself or take pitches from QB Devin Gardner. But Gamecocks LB Shaq Wilson and FS D.J. Swearinger must also be accounted for in the Michigan blocking scheme. Starting QB Connor Shaw missed some time with a foot injury but should be at full speed. He'll try to make use of WRs Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington. The Wolverines' pass rush has been inconsistent this season, but some timely blitzing from LB Jake Ryan could help.

Synopsis: Two Pac-12 teams began the season ranked in the top five. Stanford, in year one of the post-Andrew Luck era, was not one of them. But the Cardinal nevertheless claimed the roses, conquering Southern California and Oregon en route. They now hope to avenge their loss to the Badgers in their last appearance in the "Granddaddy." Wisconsin could thank NCAA penalties for its spot in the Big Ten title game, but once there the Badgers earned their way to Pasadena in devastating fashion by rushing for 539 yards and amassing 70 points against Nebraska. TBs Montee Ball and James White don't figure to have quite as easy a time rolling through the tremendous Stanford linebacking unit of Shayne Skov, Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy. The Badgers got a holiday present with the news that QB Joel Stave (collarbone) is cleared to play, but senior Curt Phillips will start. Stanford is just as comfortable in a power game with TB Stepfan Taylor. QB Kevin Hogan will try to help him get rolling while also making use of TE Zach Ertz. They'll try to keep Wisconsin LB Mike Taylor busy.

Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

No. 12 Florida State (11-2) vs. No. 16 Northern Illinois (12-1)

Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.

Covers.com line: FSU by 13. Sagarin difference: FSU by 5.69.

Bowl records: FSU 23-14-2, NIU 4-3. Series: First meeting.

Synopsis: The most controversial pairing of the BCS lineup concludes the first day of 2013. The Huskies and their fans have heard the voices of the naysayers, some of whom have big audiences, decrying the system that earned them this opportunity on the big stage at the expense of higher-ranked candidates from power conferences. So they'll have every incentive to play with high energy. The Seminoles, in something of a Catch-22 without the chance to face an opponent with more of a historical pedigree, must still find a way to match NIU's intensity. The Huskies' big season was keyed by QB Jordan Lynch, who produced 43 TDs, 19 by land, and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. WRs Martel Moore and Tommylee Lewis are his primary aerial threats, and when he does hand off, it usually goes to TB Akeem Daniels. The season-ending knee injury to DE Tank Carradine will hamper the Seminoles' efforts to contain Lynch, but DE Bjoern Werner and CB Xavier Rhodes will pose a challenge for the Huskies. FSU QB EJ Manuel hasn't been sharp in his most recent outings, but the TB rotation of James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman will look to take charge. NIU will need DEs Sean Progar and Alan Baxter to hold up along the front line.